I. Introduction
A. What Happens When We Die?
1. Most all human beings have questions about death and life after death
2. Some have a fear, some have curious nature, some have even tried to study it
3. Not something to fear for the Christian, but is to be respected
a. Psalm 116:15
b. Hebrews 9:27
4. Tonight we will examine a passage in Luke which might help shed some light on the question as well as examine some of the prevailing theories.
II. Differing Ideas
A.
1. Some believe that when we die we simply rest waiting for the return of the Lord and Judgment Day.
2. John 11:11
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:14
B. Paradise as a
1. Some believe that when we die, we are transported to a place of to await the Judgment Day.
2. In Luke 16:19-31 we read the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus
3. Parable or Prophecy? (Luke 16:19-31)
a. There is some question about whether this account is a parable or an actual event
b. Doesn’t fit mode of traditional Parable
c. Characters are given names (Lazarus, Abraham, etc.)
d. Invokes a patriarchal father within the parable who speaks (Abraham)
e. Not based on an everyday common situation. The story does not happen on earth as do the other parables.
f. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be a lesson to the story as with other parables.
g. Luke does not state that it is a parable or give indications as such.
4. If it isn’t a parable:
a. The possibility that Jesus was pulling back the curtain on life after death to encourage and convict, for He was the only person with the pre-existence to speak of such things with certainty.
b. Jesus’s main point is to speak to the greed of the Pharisees and warn of where that greed will ultimately lead.
5. Observations
a. The narrative speaks of a great chasm fixed that cannot be traversed. That seems very final.
b. The rich man is in torment.
c. He still has knowledge of his brothers’ condition on earth and wants it remedied.
d. If this is the situation, it seems both very wonderful and terrible. Will I know of the state of my loved ones? Will I recognize them if they are in torment?
C. Direct to
1. Some believe that when Jesus died and was raised, all those in torment or Paradise were transferred to a more state, which is the case from now on.
a. 1 Peter 3:18-23 is often cited as proof for this concept.
b. Jesus speaks of a judgment day (Matthew 24:29-31).
c. Hebrews 9:27
d. 2 Corinthians 5:10
e. John 12:48
2. Again, a challenge with this belief is the Judgment Day depiction found in Scripture.
D. Certainties
1. All of us will stand before God to give an for how we have lived our lives.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:10
b. Romans 14:10
c. For some, that will be a day of rejoicing.
d. For others, it will be the beginning of a nightmare.
2. God has made a way for us to stand before Him with an and .
a. 1 Timothy 2:15
b. 1 John 2:1
III. Conclusion
A. Hope
1. Even in the uncertainty that we face in death, God has supplied a certainty for life in Christ.
a. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
b. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
2. Don’t be so concerned about what happens when you die; be certain about how you live facing death.
B. Invitation
1. God has provided a way for us to be certain about our eternity.
2. Are you ready?